WASHINGTON, June 29, 2022 – The World Bank today approved $191.5 million in financing from the International Development Association (IDA)* to help Niger improve public expenditure and human resources management in the health and education sectors.
The six-year Public Sector Management for Resilience and Social Delivery Program-for-Results (PforR) project will be the first of its kind to be implemented in Niger. It will support the 2022-2028 national public sector management for resilience and social delivery program, which has recently been approved by the government of the Republic of Niger. The program aims to consolidate public finance management reforms to enhance human capital throughout the country. It will also support structural improvements of key government functions by making direct improvements to the delivery of services in underserved areas and building human capital in the long term.
“Programs for results, like this one, are the World Bank’s flagship instruments for making progress on key structural reforms and strengthening the capacity of the national system in a country like Niger,” said Aissatou Maisha Dicko, Acting World Bank Country Manager for Niger. “This is the first time that this financing instrument is being used in Niger and it will help meet the challenges that have a negative impact on access, quality and equity in primary education and health. It will also improve management of the education and health expenditure chain with a much more results-based approach.”
One component of the new program is technical assistance for enhanced support for implementation of program activities, including non-technical drivers of reforms, such as rapid results initiatives and collaborative leadership. These drivers were helpful for the harmonious implementation of various reforms under the PCDS (Public Sector Capacity and Performance for Service Delivery Project) that closed in December 2021.
This operation is aligned with the new 2022-2026 Economic and Social Development Plan (PDES), which was adopted on June 10, 2022. Pillar 1 of the Plan concerns human capital development, inclusion and solidarity.
*The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 76 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.6 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $21 billion over the last three years, with about 61 percent going to Africa.
